In-flight Tips for HKG
 

I'm taking my first trip to Hong Kong later this month. I have an aisle E+ seat going SFO-HKG and a window E+ seat on the HKG-ORD return. I have an upgrade request using SWU's on both flights. I don't want to allow myself to fret and obsess over whether or not the upgrades clear. If I do, then I'm just setting myself up for major disappointment on a trip that should be "fun". So if I just assume and mentally prepare myself for being in E+, I think the trip would be much more tolerable.

The SFO-HKG flight arrives at 6:50pm in the evening. Keeping in mind I'm gaining 15 hours once I leave home, should I just try and stay up for entire flight, sleep at the beginning, or sleep toward the end of the flight? Due to the evening arrival, I'm guessing it's best to try to stay up as much as possible and go to bed at the regular time on the first night.

Same question for the ORD-HKG flight. It leaves HKG in the late morning and arrives ORD in the late morning. Sleep in the beginning (will I miss lunch?), middle, or toward the end of the flight? Or maybe not at all?

What are some tricks for helping those who can't sleep on aircraft very well? An eye shade and ear plugs I figure are a must. Is there anything over-the-counter I can take that will help? Booze is out even though it does make me sleep, but I don't want to have to get up and pee every hour especially if I'm in the window seat.

Finally, what is the nice thing to do regarding the disturbing sleeping aisle and middle passengers to get out of the window seat? Crawl over them or violently shake them awake? :) I realize I can't do the 14 hr flight without having to get out of the window seat a few times, but I want to be nice about getting out.

Any other tips anyone has about doing the HKG flights more comfortable and tolerable in E+ I'd like to hear them!

For flights like this, I like to set my watch to the time of my arrival city, and then act as if I am already on that time.

Regarding the sleeping passengers - when you are seated, ask your seatmates how they would like to be awaken if you need to get out. If I'm in the aisle seat, I usually will tell people to wake me up, so they don't feel akward. No one can hold it that long!

Good luck with your upgrades clearing, but if they don't, you already have a great attitude.

Let's see.

1 - Get your own eye cover. I'm still using one from one of my business class upgrades.

2 - Get noise reducing headphones. I prefer the in canal ones but get some that you can sleep in.

3 - Toss your watch in your carryon when you get on the plane. Start pretending its the time in your destination.

4 - Depending on travel necessary after you land, you may need to be awake. Since my China base is in Shenzhen, I try to catch a few cat naps during the flight. They are never good ones but they help pass the time away.

Great question.

1.) Start migrating your internal clock a few days before the trip. I've heard Space Shuttle astronauts operate on a 25-hour day, because our circadian clocks drift about one hour each day (That's why people tend to stay up later, and sleep later on weekends, when schedules are not rigid). I try to use this knowledge to tweak my work schedule starting 3-4 days before an Asia trip. Start getting up an hour later each day, and stay awake an hour later each night.

2.) Exercise. When you arrive, try to do a workout in the evenings--it will help you fall asleep those first few nights.

3.) Coming home. Reverse the process. Try to start adjusting your schedule toward home. Getting up earlier each day, and going to bed earlier. If your trip is only a week, you'll likely still feel tired during the day. Sleep as much as you want on the flight home.

4.) Get ready for the fun part. Your wife will want a break from the kids and household duties you "escaped" from. Suck it up, and shovel snow, take out the trash, and play with the kids while you feel like crap.

Flying SFO-HKG I usually try to nap a bit mid-flight, but not worry about long sleep. Leaving about noon Pacific Time gets in to HKG about 2am Pacific time, so it really isn't late enough to feel tired. Upon arrival, maybe a light meal and to bed about 10 or so and plan on sleeping in. That's all it takes for me on most westbound flights, including home from Europe.

Load up your PC with rental movies from itunes.

!!! I would go ahead and fret about the upgrade clearing ;)

In case it doesn't:
= get an extended life battery/spare for your laptop and watch movies etc
= definitely bring eye shades/ear plugs/noise cancelling if you have it (and can sleep while wearing it!)
= either xanax or ambien is great for sleeping and passing time...try before you fly, not over the counter. In flight is no place to try something and find out there is an issue.
= I also set my watch to destination as soon as we take off
= I also a couple days before start staying up a little later etc
= I also put a priority on sleep period, as in- even if the time is wrong, overall the sleep or lack of good sleep that you may experience is more easily overcome if you listen to your body and get sleep when you can. Sometimes a 15 minute powernap does more for you than fighting it for 5 hours. In the end, you need the sleep and you gotta get it when you can.

Regardless of what class I'm sitting in, I find the best cure for jetlag across the Pacific is to stay awake the entire way westbound, sleep most of the way eastbound, and drink mostly water, not booze.

BTW, Xanax is great for the sleeping legs of your trip! But get this from your Dr. and again, limit the booze with it.

I have a sample rate of 1 but my SWU had cleared on SFO-HKG the day and I got my BP for C at check in. The check in agent said that it wasn't a particular popular route for elites and as a 1K my chances were always good. I'd say as a GS your chances were even better.

If you are sentenced to 15 hours in Y on a UA 744 then I echo the advice, load up your laptop with as much entertainment as you can! I just got a new laptop that has this crazy 11 hour battery and I still bought 2 of them with me just in case. The prospect of watching a bunch of PG-13 movies on a projector screen was giving me the heebie-jeebies!

Enjoy the flight and more's to the point enjoy HKG. I just moved here in December and I love it!

my response
 

Two points.


1) Can you change the date so there is NC space?

2) If not, then just think that there are far worse things could happen in life. For example: an one year sentence in jail.

Most jail cells I've seen have fully flat beds and some of them even let you have your own telly! I'd take a year there that 15 hours in E+ on a 744! :D

If you are concerned about disturbing or being disturbed by other passengers when getting up to use the lavatory etc., and you are in a 3-4-3 economy class cabin, choose an aisle seat on the center block. Then you will not be trapped and will disturb no one when you get up, and only one person will disturb you by getting up.

If you are in the window seat and have to use the lavatory while the two passengers trapping you in are still eating their meals, that can be rather inconvenient.